Carotenoids & Coantioxidants for Macular Degeneration

Patients with early signs of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may benefit from an oral treatment of key nutrients. In a study published in the journal Ophthalmology, a solution of carotenoids with coantioxidants was shown to both improve vision and slow further degeneration in participants with early AMD.
In the randomized double-masked trial, 433 adults with early AMD who were 55 years of age or older were given either an active solution or a placebo. At the start of the trial, all participants had either early AMD in one eye and late-stage AMD in the other, or early AMD in both eyes. The active oral solution contained carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, along with coantioxidants copper, zinc, and vitamins C and E.

All patients had visual acuity measured every six months in a variety of tests, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and contrast sensitivity (CS). Progression along an AMD severity scale was also measured after 12, 24, and 36 months. Patients receiving the active solution showed significant improvement in BCVA tests compared to those in the placebo group, as well as slower progression along the AMD severity scale. These findings suggest a potentially valuable treatment for early AMD.